Tuesday, November 25, 2014

You know by now that killer cop Darren Wilson got off scott-free, just as I predicted he would. Three months ago, on the day that St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch announced that a grand jury would be convened to look into the shooting death of Michael Brown, I knew the fix was in and I said so on this blog site. In his 24 years as the county prosecutor, McCulloch, whose father was a St. Louis cop shot and killed in the line of duty, has never indicted a single police officer for any crime. In fact, to my knowledge, no St. Louis County policeman has ever been censured, suspended, or even chastised for any wrongdoing whatsoever. This is one remarkable record! Either the St. Louis County cops are the most professional, fair-minded, unsullied, tolerant, racially blind, and incorruptible police force in the history of mankind...or, Bob McCulloch is a master at covering up and dismissing police misconduct and brutality. As someone who has lived here all my life, I can assure you it is not the former.

So it galled to me to no end that he was not grilled, fried and sauteed about his record when reporters had their chance last night. As I sat and watched McCulloch's press conference, I grew more frustrated with each stupid question asked by the so-called "journalists" present. It was as if they were McCulloch "plants" the way they lobbed softballs in his direction. The local media, who know McCulloch and his ways better than the national media, were particularly culpable. Granted, McCulloch has ways of intimidating and bullying local "journalists," but you would think at least one would ask a tough question. Instead, what we got were questions like these:

"What was the grand jury's vote?" McCulloch explained that the grand jury's ballot is secret and, by law, no one is allowed to ascertain how the vote broke down. This question was asked by three different reporters!

Someone clumsily asked McCulloch about his presumed bias because of his father's murder. McCulloch brushed it aside without much effort.

Another newsman asked about the racial makeup of the jury. McCulloch toyed with him.

There were half-hearted efforts to explore the actual evidence, but the reporters seemed to have a tenuous grasp of the facts. One even asked McCulloch if the videotape of the shooting would now be released. McCulloch barely restrained a smirk as he pointed out that there was no videotape of the shooting.

Here's what McCulloch should have been asked:

1) "Why didn't you instruct the jury as to their options regarding the various counts the grand jury had to consider." In other words, in any murder case, the prosecutor, as a matter of course, would detail the various indictments (or true bills) for the jury to consider--everything from murder one to involuntary manslaughter. McCulloch did not do this in the Brown case. Why did he deviate from normal prosecutorial methods? Was it to go easy on Officer Wilson and induce a no-true bill from the jury?

2) "Isn't this a case of overkill? Brown sustained 10 bullet wounds, most of them from a distance of 150 feet. That's half a football field's length. How can it be argued that Officer Wilson was in imminent danger from half a football field away?" It is undeniable that Brown was already critically wounded and of no threat to Wilson when Wilson delivered the kill shot."

3) "Why was Brown's body left to lie in the middle of the street for four hours? Was a cover-up being concocted during this delay?"

4) "If, as you say, Officer Wilson knew that someone matching Brown's description was suspected in a petty theft, why is there no record of this in Wilson's broadcast conversation with the police dispatcher? Wilson's own supervisor, the Ferguson Police Chief, himself admitted just days after the shooting that Wilson had no knowledge of Brown being a theft suspect at the time of the shooting."

5) "How is it that no policeman, on your watch, has ever been suspended, much less indicted or convicted of any crime, in your 24 years as County prosecutor? No county in the country has such a record for the last 24 years. This is despite the fact that hundreds of officer-involved shootings have occurred since you took office in 1990. All those shootings were justified? That is one remarkable record. How do you account for that, Mr. McCulloch?"

6) "Did your office prosecute this case with the same zeal as you would have prosecuted a case which involved an officer being gunned down by a private citizen?"

7) "Why is your prosecutorial record of convicting black offenders wildly disproportionate to the racial composition of St. Louis County?"

I should have been at the press conference to ask these questions myself, but I am much too educated, unintimidated, and independent to obtain a media credential in this town.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

As part of the Collinsville Public Library's "Meet The Author" series, I will be discussing the JFK assassination on November 22, 2014, at 2 pm. My book, "The President's Mortician: A Story Of How And Why JFK's Murder Was Executed And Covered Up" will be available for purchase at a discounted price of $12. I will be happy to sign all purchased copies. The presentation is open to the public.

The discussion will include how and why JFK was murdered; the true nature of the plot that took his life; the extent and mechanics of the cover-up; the aftermath for America; as well as the long-term ramifications. More specific subjects that will be addressed include why the mainstream media have not exposed the truth; who were the likely triggermen; how and why JFK's wounds were altered; how the assassination affected our Vietnam policy; the Warren Commission whitewash; and the CIA's coordination of the plot.

The Collinsville Public Library is located at 408 W. Main Street in downtown Collinsville, Illinois. For more information, call (618) 344-1112.

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

The results of the recent midterm elections are more a reflection of low voter turnout and white backlash than anything else. Certainly it has nothing to do with President Obama’s job performance, for he has been a very effective president in terms of getting positive results in his six years in office. But that didn’t matter to the Koch Brothers and other right-wing extremists who poured millions into a mass propaganda effort to demonize Obama. It worked, but only because it appealed to ignorant, misinformed and racist white voters…the kind who turn out in droves to vote in any election. Too bad the liberals didn’t show up to offset the angry white voters. Voter turnout was the lowest for a midterm election in 78 years. Barely 34% of the electorate came to the polls. That’s a disgrace for a country which calls itself a democracy. I suppose we deserve the quasi-fascist government we are going to get.

Democratic candidates must share the blame for their losses. Instead of embracing the good that has been done under a Democratic administration, they inexplicably ran away from Obama’s accomplishments the last six years. The strategy was as stupid as it was frustrating. Democrats should have put Republicans on the defensive by reminding Americans of what it was like when Obama took office and how things are much better now. For instance: in January 2009, unemployment was at 7.9%; it now stands at 5.8%. GDP growth stood at -5.4%; today it is at +3.5%. The Dow Jones index was at 7,949 when Obama took office; today it is at 17,573. Consumer confidence coming out of the banking/lending crisis was 37.7%; today it’s 94.5%. Bin Laden is dead; General Motors is alive. Seven million more people have affordable health care. All this while Republican obstructionists stubbornly stood in the way of all progress.

That’s some great record. And when history is written a hundred years from now, Obama will be considered one the great presidents of the 21st century …unless, of course that history is written by an angry white racist.

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Recently a secret recording was made of a Republican lobbyist, named Richard Berman, addressing a meeting of energy-industry executives. What the lobbyist revealed is at the core of the right-wing strategy for getting Americans to vote against their own interests. “We exploit their basest emotions. We prey on their fear, greed and anger. The truth never matters. Because if we hit them in their gut, they don’t care what the truth is.” With these “inspiring” words Berman elicited millions in donations for Republican political candidates from a quasi-fascist group called Western Energy Alliance, whose members include Halliburton, Devon Energy, and Anadarko Petroleum. And because the Supreme Court has removed limits on corporate spending, right-wing billionaire groups like Western Energy can literally buy elections with their money. That’s the right-wing playbook. That’s how it works. That’s America in 2014. The richest, greediest, most conservative people in the country can hire paid liars to do their bidding to get what they want.

Climate change is real, but liars like Louis Gohmert can convince voters it’s not by pointing out that it’s a black man who has the audacity to tell us it’s real. Obamacare is working, but Mitch McConnell can exploit racist Kentuckians to believe otherwise. Scott Walker can convince working class Wisconsinites that their taxes will go up if they don’t elect him; in reality, it is only the super-rich whose taxes will rise. The rise of lower and middle class families makes America better, but when white bigots see blacks and Latinos getting opportunities, they become jealous, angry and fearful. Limbaugh and FOX News exploit this fear with dire warnings of brown people swarming into America spreading disease, going on welfare, and voting for minority candidates. The colored hordes are coming, is the message.

To fend off these lies, one must be educated and well-read. Sadly, most of white, rural America is woefully unlearned. They can’t afford higher education, and they have limited access to the truth. They will believe the most bellicose, incendiary, and hateful voices they hear. That’s how Republicans want them—stupid, poor, and pissed-off. The way they will always be under Republican rule.

About Me

I am a freelance writer. My current novel, "The President's Mortician," is for sale on amazon.com, barnesand noble.com, and my publisher's website, Neverland Publishing. To read more about me and the book, visit neverlandpc.com and click on "Titles."